Well-cleaner



S. F. BASHARA.

WELL CLEANER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22, 1920.

S. F. BASHAR.

WELL CLEANER.

APPLlcATloN HLED MAR.22.1920.

1,342,618. I Patented June 8, 1920.

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BYXMMRSM ATTORNEY S. F. BASHARA.

WELL CLEANER.

APPLICATION FILED NIAIIy 22. 1920.

1,342,618. PanIedJune8,1920.

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INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES SAMUEL F. BASHARA, 0F HOUSTON, TEXAS.

WELL-CLEANER.

Specification of Letters Iatent.

Patented June 8, 1920.

Application led March 22, 1920. Serial No. 367,819.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, SAMUEL F. BAsHARA, a citizen of the United States, residing at Houston, Harris county, Texas, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Tell-Cleaners, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in means for cleaning oil, Water, or gas wells and the like.

The object of my invention is to provide a device which may be inserted within a well, the screen of which has become clogged with material, and to flush out and open up the screen so-that a flow of fluid may be obtained.

Another object is to provide a device of this character which will have a means for agitating and removing the material from the screen and flushing means which may be then directed againstthe material removed so that it may be carried from the well to the surface and there disposed of.

The advantageous features of my improved means will more clearly appear in the specification which follows and the special features of novelty will be pointed out with more particularity in the claims.

Referring to the drawing forming a part of this specification, and wherein like numerals of reference are applied to like parts throughout the several views, Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section through a device embodying my invention and shown inserted Within a Well casing; Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line 2-2 of Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a similar section on the line 3-3 of Fig. l; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the device disclosed in Fig. 1; Fig. 5-is a detailed showing of one form of brush used in connection with my`invention;'Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the said brush taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5, Fig. 7 is a View showing the shank of the agitator, used in my invention, in closed position, Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section through my cleaner showing amodified form thereof, and Fig. 9 is a transverse section-on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

My well cleaner is adapted to be used for the purpose of cleaning the interior surface and bottom of the well so that a further means may be used to force fluid outwardly through the interstices of the screen and clean the same of materialtherein which may not be removed by the cleaning device here disclosed. My present invention consists 0f a section of pipe which may be attached to the lower end of a drill stem, and which will serve the purpose of removing material from the interior of the screen.

lIn Fig. 1 I have shown such a length of pipe 1, as used within a screen 2, to be cleaned. This pipe 1 is threaded at the upper end for attachment by means of a coupling 3 to the drill stem 4. The lower end of the pipe section is provided with a closurcA 5 which is formed with a series of perforations 6 spaced inwardlyfrom the walls of the pipe. At the central point of the closure 5 I have provided a polygonal opening 7 adapted to slidably receive a shank 8 of anv agitating blade 9, said blade being removably attached at 10 to the said shank. This agitating blade may take the form, as here shown, of a fish-tail bit, which may have the lower cutting end thereof removable from the body of the blade by a mortise and tenon joint 12 between the points and the blade, as shown in Fig. 4. Screws on rivets 13 are used to prevent the detachment of the points from the blade during operation. The upper end of the shank 8 is provided with a disk 14 rigidly secured thereto. This disk is shownas cylindrical in shape and will, when the agitating blade is at its lowest point, as shown in Fig. 7, cover the perforations 6 and prevent the passage of the fiushing fluid downwardly through said perforations.

On the outer surface of my cleaner I have secured a series of brushes, preferably made of steel wire, which are formed to bear against the inner wall of the screen and brush the same clear of sediment, paraiin or other substance which may have formed thereon. These brushes may be attached to the cleaner in different ways, and I have shown at the upper end of the cleaner one embodiment of my brush attaching means. In this form the brushes are mounted upon removable plugs 15, shown most clearly in Fig. 5. These plugs are threaded on their exterior faces for screwing within a socket 16 extending part way through the pipe l. The bristles composing the brush are fixed within the plug by being inserted downwardly through openings 17 in the brush and passing across underneath the plug to another opening 17 and projecting outwardly-throughsaid opening to the outside again. Thus one set of bristles will serve to make two brushing means. Two sets of these bristles, making four brushes in all, are preferably used in each plug. A central polygonal socket 18 is formed in the outer face of the plug to receive a socket wrench, by means of which the plug may be attached or detached 'from the pipe. A duct or -channel 19 is formed in the bottom of the socket 18, said channel registering with'a similar channel 20 at the bottom of the' socket 16,

thereby allowing the passage of water o utwardly from the pipe to the central portion of the brush.

A lseries of these plugs are threaded within recesses in the outer face of the'pipe for a short distance, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, and there may also be provided a series of openings 21 in the pipe between the differ` ent plu s so that water may beprojected outwar ly around the brushes more elliciently. Adjacent the brushes may be a section of pipe 22 perforated at 23 to allow the passage of water or other iushing fluid outwardly against the screen.

Another means by which I have shown an improved form of mounting for the brushes is seen in Figs. 1 and 4 at the central and bottomportions of the cleaner. These sets of Vbrushes are mounted in plates 24, these plates being arc-shaped in cross section and adapted to ton the outer surface of the piperl and removably attached thereto by means of collars 25 at the upper and lower ends of, said plates. The upper andlower ends of the plates 24 are slightly reduced 1n diameter at 26 to receive the collars 25 which have a downwardly projecting flange 27 littingover the reduced portion. The collars vare attached to the plates and to the pipe 1 by means of set screws 28 or other similar means. The plates 24, holding these brushes, may be four in number, or may preferably be only two in number, and arranged opposite each other, as shown in Fig. 2, so as to provide a passage 29 between the sets of brushes for; the passage of water.

The brushes are fixed to the removable plates 24 by an arrangement similar to that used in the plugs 15. That is, the wires are introduced throughan opening in the plate and bent laterally on the under face thereof and extended back outwardly, through another opening, to form, with one set of Y brushes, two ,brushing means. There may lco be countersunk channels in the back of the plate to allow a seatfor these bristles between the holes, as shown in Fig. 1, or they Vmay seat on. the plain inner surface, as

shown in Fig. 8. In the latter case they space the plate slightly from the pipe. When the bristles have been arranged in position,

the clamping of the plates to the pipe 1 will prevent the loosening or removal of the bristles from'the plate and thus'form a removable brush which will have certain obvious advantages. As many different sets of brushes as may be desired may be arranged on the outer surface of the pipe 1, but I have shown three of these sets, two of the sets comprising opposite plates 24 with brushes thereon fixed to the outer surface of the vpipe by means of the collars 25. W henthis means of fastening the brushes tothe pipe is used it is preferred thattheplat'es be arranged opposite, as'previously described, and that their position on the pipe be staggered relative to each other. That is, each alternate set of brushing means will be arranged on the pipe at an angle of 90o from the one next above or below the saine. This, however, is only an alternate means of securing the brushes to the pipe, and the means shown in Fig. 5 may be used exclusively, if desired.

When the plates are used, it will be preferable in some cases to arrange the plates opposite each other the whole length of the cleaner, as shown in Fig. 8. When .this is done the side of the pipel, between the area covered by the plates, will be perforated at 30 for its full length. These plates may be two in number,` continuous for the full length ofthe pipe, or there may be a plurality of plates on each side secured at the upper and lower ends of the cleaner by collars 25 as before, and at intermediate points by collars 25. The said collars 25 are simply fiat metal bands formed to fit closely over the adjacent ends of the plates and held to the pipe and to the plates by set screws 28.

In the operation of my device the cleaner may be attached to the lower end of a drill stem and inserted downwardly into the well until the screen is reached. It is-usually found that the lower end of the well lwill be sanded up or be filled with paraffin or asphaltic material closing the lower end thereof. Water may be pumped downwardly under pressure inside the'drill stem and cleaner. and may be projected outwardly through the openings 21 and 23 against the side of the screen, and materialadhering to the screen will be brushed off and removed by means of the brushes upon the cleaner. When the bottom of the well is reached the blade 9 of the agitating means will come in contact with the accumulated material, and the rotation ofl the drill stem and cleaner will cut up and agitate this material so that it maybe removed. The contact of the agitati'ng blade9 with the material will also forcethe shank 8 ofthe said agitator upwardly within the cleaner and open the perforations 6 in the closure at the lower end, and thus allow strong downward streams of iushing material, which will project against the sediment which has been stirred up by the agitator, and cause the same to be washed upwardly with thereturn stream of flushing fluid and thus be carried to the surface. The cleaner may be reciprocated within the screen and will also be rotated. The rotation will cause the brushes to act upon the interior of the screen and will also cause the agitator to cut up and disintegrate the sediment which has accumulated at the bottom of the hole. The force of the flushing water will carry the material, thusv stirred up and removed, in suspension upwardly both within and without the screen to the surface of the ground. I/Vhen the screen has been cleaned the device may be removed. This type of device has certain obvious advantages in simplicity and strength, and has also been found to be economical in use in that the brushes may be removed and repaired or new ones sub- -stituted with very little expense.

Having thus described my invention, the

advantages of which will be apparent,lwhat I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is: 1. A well cleaner comprising a section of pipe perforated at intervals, and having brushes removably secured thereto; said brushes including removable plates, bristles passed downwardly and backwardly through said plates and held against removal by clamping said plates to said pipe.

2. A well cleaner comprising a section of pipe having perforations therein and brushes removably secured thereto, said brushes including curved plates adapted to fit on the outerface of said pipe, bristles projecting through said plates and =held therein by the clamping of said plates to said pipe, and collars at the upper and lower ends of said plates to secure said plates in position.

3. A well cleaner comprising a .section of pipe having a closure at the lower end thereof, an agitator slidable therein and controlj ling the projection of fluid through said closure, and removable brushing means on said pipe to bear against the sides of. the

well to be cleaned.

4. A well cleaner comprising a section of perforated pipe with agitating means at the lower end thereof, brushes removably secured on the sides of said pipe, comprising wire bristles passed downwardly through a removable means and extending back outwardly therethrough and held against removal therein by the attachment of said removable means to said pipe.

5. A well cleaner comprising a section of pipe having a perforated closure at the lower end, said closure having a polygonal opening therein, an -agitating blade having a polygonal shank iittingwithin said opening and slidable therein, a disk fixed on thc upper end of said shank adapted to limit the downward movement of said agitator and to close the perforations in said closure.

6. A well cleaner comprising a section of pipe having an agitating device at the lower end, and brushes on the outer face thereof, said brushes being removably secured thereon, said pipe having series of perforations therein for the purpose described.

7. A well cleaner comprising a section of pipe, a perforated closure at the lower end, an agitating device having a polygonal shank thereon, projecting upwardly through an opening in said closure, and a valve on the upper end of said shank adapted to close the perforations in said closure when the agitator is in closed position.

8. A well cleaner comprising a section of pipe having a closure at the lower end thereof, an agitating blade having a polygonal shank slidable through an opening in said closure, means to limit the movement of said shank and brushes onsaid pose described.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature, this the 18th day of March, A. D. 1920.

SAMUEL F. BASHARA.

pipe for the pur-- 

